Part Three
AJ CHEGWIDDEN'S OFFICE
JAG HEADQUARTERS
FALLS CHURCH, VIRGINIA
Webb turned away from the door and resolutely faced the Admiral. "AJ, I am not planning your wedding. Period."
"That's not what you told my fianc�e, Webb." AJ crossed his arms and leaned back against the front of his desk.
Edging closer and thrusting his fists onto his hips, Webb was visibly frustrated. "Oh, for crying out loud, it was a misunderstanding."
AJ stood up, almost nose-to-nose with the younger man, "Well, for some damn reason, Meredith thinks you're the man for the job!" Then, turning away from Webb, he headed for his chair, "We have formally accepted your offer."
Dumbfounded, Webb's jaw dropped. Quickly recovering, he leaned over the Admiral's desk, anxious to correct the smug bridegroom. "Wait! There was no offer-----AJ! Admiral! Listen to me. This is a huge mistake. Huge. I can't---."
"You know, Webb, Meredith may be right," AJ easily cut him off, and leisurely leaned back in his leather executive chair. "Who better to pull strings and bring this off than a Company Man? Should be goddamn child's play for you. Hell, I wasn't making any progress. This kind of operation really does need someone like you at the helm."
Webb paced to the window, running both hands through his hair. "Whoa! Re-think it. I'm a field agent not a party planner."
AJ swiveled his chair towards the window. "You saying this kind of thing's beneath your attention?"
"Yes!" Webb hissed.
AJ merely smiled. "Think again---you're doin' it."
"Oh, like hell AJ," Webb countered. "You can't order me to do this or anything else."
AJ leaned back, placing both arms behind his head. "Wouldn't think of it, Webb. You're going to do this out of the goodness of your heart."
"There you go, then," Webb snapped. "There is no goodness in my heart; I don't have a heart. I'm the Tin Man, remember?"
"Oh, get over yourself, Webb." AJ straightened in his chair and picked his reading glasses. "That rep went down the drain a long time ago. Besides," he tapped the glasses on the desk for emphasis, "I know you're hound-dogging my Chief of Staff. Word is she's not exactly running in the opposite direction. I'd question her sanity, but she's a damn good judge of character."
Webb's fists slipped into his pants pockets as he rocked back on his heels, "I am not---did you say hound-dogging?---the Colonel. We're friends."
"Oh, hell Webb. I've seen you two sniffing around each other, so just lose the injured innocence act. It doesn't work on me, but maybe---," AJ broke off as he heard a slight scuffling outside his
office door. Casually striding forward and grabbing the doorknob, AJ wasn't at all surprised to see the two women stagger into his office. "Mac�Meredith�.how nice of you to drop by."
Helping his fianc�e regain her balance, the Admiral hugged her close and assured her: "It's a done deal."
"Oh, AJ! How lovely!" Meredith crooned. Walking over to the outmaneuvered secret agent, Meredith's eyes sparkled with mischief. "We're so pleased, Creighton. I'm certain that you'll
live up to our expectations."
Webb looked helplessly towards Mac, then corrected Meredith: "It's Clayton, actually."
Meredith studied him carefully then led him back towards AJ and Mac. "Hmmm�is it? Well, isn't that an interesting choice? Clayton� yes, that does sound more like a wedding planner than Caleb did. Well, Agent Webb, I might get confused by all these undercover names you use, but I'm certain I can remember that one," she assured him.
Webb looked over at Mac and rolled his eyes. The Admiral let out a hearty laugh and encircled his fianc�e with his left arm. Meredith relaxed in AJ's embrace and looked up at Webb in delight. "This is so fascinating! What criteria do you use when choosing these names?" Meredith was in total earnest while Webb seemed to be at a complete loss for words.
"Meredith, darlin', that's classified information." AJ informed her. "Now, let's get some dinner. Colonel, Webb, you coming?"
"Ah, Admiral," Mac finally spoke, "if it's all the same to you, I need to consult with Webb on a certain matter---if that's agreeable with Mr. Webb?" Mac sent a questioning look towards Webb while AJ nodded his understanding.
"Very well, Colonel. I'm sure you'll be a great help to Webb in planning this little operation." AJ was helping Meredith with her coat and missed the startled by-play between Mac and Webb.
"Me, sir?" Mac asked.
AJ settled his cover on his head and opened his eyes just a bit wider. "Isn't that what you wanted to consult Mr. Webb about?"
Knowing she was neatly trapped, Mac silently conceded the battle to her commanding officer. "Oh, uh, yes, sir. Absolutely, sir. You read my mind, sir."
He grinned at the easy defeat and laughed wryly at her last comment. "Ha---on that I have my doubts, but I appreciate having you on board, Mac!" AJ held out his arm, "Meredith? Shall we?"
As the happy couple left the office, Mac and Webb simply stared at one another. Webb was the first to move. "Well, Colonel�I'm suddenly famished. Care to cut out for a bite to eat?"
Mac still looked a bit bemused at being outmaneuvered by her CO. "Sure, Clay. Want to try the deli on Hampton?"
"I was thinking more along the lines of room service at The Siena," was his silky reply.
"Nuh-uh, Spook---we have a mission to plan. Operation Getting Hitched precludes all other activities from now on," she reminded him.
Webb didn't like where this was going. "To the exclusion of all else?"
Mac looked him up and down, daring him to disagree, "Yep."
Webb cupped her cheek and softly disagreed, "Nope. I'd never survive. So if you can't stand the heat, you'd better get out of the kitchen---now, Sarah." His last word, her name, was barely audible.
Mac widened her eyes and leaned into his caress, "Heat, Clay? Those are bold words for a bushwhacked wedding planner," she teased. Raising both arms around his neck, Mac demanded, "What makes you think I can't take the heat."
Settling his free arm around her back, Webb settled her closer. "Maybe you can. I'm hoping like hell you can. By the way, Sarah---I'm going to do my damnedest to make you melt." His expression was absolutely sincere and chipped away at her heart.
Touching her lips to his, she murmured, "You do that, Clay. You do that."
Just as they were easing into their first delicious kiss of the day, the door slammed open.
"Mac! Coates told me you were hiding out in�.oh. How're ya' doing Webb? Funny finding you in here," Harm accused.
"Hello, Harm." Webb reluctantly released Mac's lips, but still retained his light hold on her. He was pleased to note that she was still clinging to his neck, unperturbed by Commander Rabb's presence..
"Hi, Harm," she absently called out. "Whatever it is can wait. I'm planning a top secret operation right now." Mac's eyes never left Webb's face as she lightly teased the thick hair just touching the
collar of his blue shirt. Webb grinned and kissed the tip of her nose.
"So I see," intoned the disapproving Naval officer. Webb and Mac slowly broke apart and faced their friendly intruder, trying hard to hide their matching grins. Irritated, but not knowing exactly why, Harm grunted and left the office. Behind him, Webb and Mac quickly followed, calling out his name.
"Harm! Hey, wait up Harm! Sarah, we can use him on this. After all, we don't need to suffer alone," Webb laughed.
"Clay, did I ever tell you how much I admire your pragmatism?" Mac agreed, then stopped abruptly at Harm's closed door. Raising their brows, they simply barged on in, pleased to hear Harm's responding groan of protest.
~~~~~~~~~~TO BE CONTINUED�.......